My first tikiinvasion and boy did it exceed my expectation. I made a weekend out of it, and it was perfect.

I took off work Friday to get an early start on the weekend. I got a surf in that morning and it was GOOOOD. 2-4 foot, CLEAN and no sharks! Sweet baby Lou, this was a sign.

Let the weekend begin!!!!!
Why go half way? I’m making the rounds this weekend. I HAD a few brain cells that were getting way too cocky and besides, I gotta get in shape for tiki oasis 8. It’s never too early to train.

Got outa san diego around 1pm, first stop El Segundo. Hit the Purple Orchid and had
a tasty mai tai out of a scorpion bowl with my wife. Ahhhh, just what I needed to get into the state of mind required for the upcoming weekend.

This was my first time to the Bahaooka and I was impressed with how cool the place is, fur sure!

Sofa King in his native habitat

We are hitting all we can this weekend, now for stop III.

OOGA MOOGA!!!

That’s right, I had to make my pilgrimage. Getting on my knees, facing north and bowing to my mecca was no longer good enough. This was another first for me. I saw the light, and it was good.

My wife and scored a seat at the bar and met Maui Mike from Maui. He is a close personal friend with the owners and gets full VIP treatment in the Tiki Ti when visiting from his paradise. We talked and told him how we got engaged at Mamma Fish House on Maui. We got his contact info and will be looking him up the next time we are over there.

After a mai tai, a Ray’s mistake, and one 45 dollar parking ticket, my wife drove us to the hotel.

We got to mission tiki around 12 noon. I was in heaven, cars, tiki, KILLER live music, B movies,…..Game Over!

Like many have already mentioned, Tikiyaki Orchestra were on it! Honestly, all the bands were exceptional as many others have already stated. It was great to see the Woggles tear it up again, and I could listen to the Martini Kings for days. For my personal taste, the Del Reys took top honors.

Form meets Function

By the way, I believe that was John Goodman fresh off the set of Big Lebowski II playing drums for the Unknown Hinson.

“DONNIE, your out of your element!,…. Dude, Am I wrong?! Am I wrong?!”

let me give a try at this.
Thurs nite went to Alex's bar in LB to see VooDuo and the UglyBeats.
Fri. nite. The Flying bridge in Oceanside for Tiki Night with 3 of the 4 hours of Superwave playing.
Sat. morning, had to clean 3 more pools I didnt do Fri. because my bathing suit ripped on the seam, and didnt want to expose myself at my customers expense.
Got to tiki drive in at 11:30. proceeded to get extremly drunk, enjoyed
Tikiyaki immensely. then went and passed out under the trees by the big stage,
could hear the bands, but was bummed I was not able to watch. it was only 8 ounces of RUM, wtf??? haha. became coherent enough to go see some of Martini Kings thankfully, then saw Agent Orange. then got ready for the movies.
no, no more rum, it got cold, dressed warmer, but was still chilly,
about 20 min or so into Zombie we left. We is Ran(kick the reverb) and Jonpaul of tikiyaki/tikimag. they both crashed in my tiki room at my house.
Next morning. Ran had to get up at 6 am to get back to San Diego, JP and I did Breakfast at Kinda Lahina in Seal Beach(mmmmm portugeeese sausage)back home
2 hour nap, then went to my Ex Brother in Laws house, and we bought some of his tiki mugs, then to TV's lounge in BH. He had rehersal for tikiyaki, so I dropped him off, I went home and took another 3 hour nap.
Monday I vegged all day recouperating.

Bigtikidude,
I think your weekend wins over mine. You fit in more music than I did. I like your style, charging it like that. I think you and I may live by the
same creed. It goes like this...”Because I Can!”
I think your pace would have lapped me this past weekend. I must train harder, you pace would have worked me for sure.
Keep up the good work for us sinners out here.

Spycygirl,
I see you locate yourself conveniently/ dangerously close to fine tiki establishments. You have great taste, I like that kind of commitment!
I really enjoyed both of those bars SofaKing much!
I have the good fortune to live within stumbling distance from the Bali Hai. Well actually, driving or biking is preferred but walking is totally doable and often done. Have fun in the windy city!

Caught the last few hours of daylight for TikiInvasion, great looking place you designed Danny, awesome job!
The Mission Tiki keeps getting better and better. What a great place for all the great musicians, artists, cars, and people. Good space to be in. Good seeing many of you.